Adjustable strike



Dec. 15, 1964 .1. A. TORNOE ETAL 3,151,429

ADJUSTABLE STRIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN A. TORNOE BY ROBERT A. MAROTTO ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1964' TORNOE ETAL 3,161,429

ADJUSTABLE STRIKE Filed Jan. '7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JOHN A. TORNOE BY ROBERT A. MAROTTO mkwo ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,161,429 ADJUSTABLE STRIKE John A. Tornoe and Robert A. Marotto, Redwood (Zity, Calih, assignors to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Filed Jan. 7, 1964. Ser. No. 336,204 7 Gaines. (Ci. 1292-3 11318) This invention relates to a strike for a door lock and more particularly to a strike that is adjustable to compensate for the change in clearance between a door jamb and its associated door.

Heretofore various attempts have been made to provide adjustable strikes for the purpose of reducing clearance between the door and the strike plate after the door has drawn away from the jamb due to shrinkage or warping. Such prior art devices have not been successful commercially partly because, for the most part, they have been so complicated that their manufacture was too expensive or it has not been possible to make the required adjustment without the exercise of a great deal of care and the expenditure of considerable time.

Some such prior art adjustable strikes have required the use of springs (see, for example, Ziganek Patent 1,111,425) for holding the adjustable portion of the mechanism in its proper position and the majority of such devices have required the adjustment of a plurality of fastening elements (see, for example, Cuff Patents 839,556 and 890,613 and Butterworth Patent 1,463,384).

The main object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable strike that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art devices of like nature.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable strike constructed so as to simulate as closely as possible a conventional fixed strike and which will perform the operations of depressing the latch bolt and holding the door in closed position with the same effectiveness as a fixed strike.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel adjustable strike that is inexpensive to manufacture and which is as rugged in its resistance to impact loads as conventional fixed strikes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable strike which lends itself readily to adjustment in a speedy manner and at the same time maintain the adjusted position despite vibration and impacts.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of the preferred form of the invention showing the various parts thereof in spaced apart relationship.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a door jamb and an associated door showing the adjustable strike in its open position to accommodate it to. a relatively wide clearance between jamb and door. The door stop is omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the door jamb with the strike mounted thereon and as taken in a plane indicated by lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 but with the latch bolt omitted for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the adjustable strike as taken in aplane indicated by lines 44 of FIG. 3, and with the casing molding omitted.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section through the strike and jamb with the associated door indicated in dot-dash lines, and showing the adjustable strike in its closed position as employed when the clearance between jamb and door is relatively small.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the clearance between jamb and door is relatively great.

auras Patented Dec. -15, 1964 the same manner as a conventional fixed strike. As best seen in FIG. 1, the jamb generally designated 10 is provided with a mortise on its inner face 11 to receive the strike plate and base plate generally designated 12, 13 respectively. Said mortise comprises a generally rectangular shallow recess '14 equal in depth to the combined thickness of the strike plate 12 and base plate 13 and a relatively deep centralrecess 15. Between the shallow recess 14 and the outside face 16 of jamb 10 a recess 17 is provided for accommodating a portion of the adjustable strike in a manner that will be more apparent later on.

Secured to the inner face 11 of jamb 10 is a door stop 18 and secured to the outer face 16 may be-any customary typeof casing molding such as indicated at 19.

The base plate 13 comprises a pair of upper and lower flanges 25, 26, a pair of horizontally extending legs 27, 28 and a vertically extending base portion 29 spaced :from and parallel to the flanges 25, 26. Before base plate 13 is secured to jamb 10 it is secured to the strike plate '12 by clinching as best seen in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by providing integral ferrules 30, 31 around countersunk screw holes 32, 33 respectively on strike plate 12 so that said ferrules may be passed through corresponding holes 34, 35 in flanges 25, 26 of base plate 13. The ferrules 3t), 31 are flared outwardly at assembly to integrally secure the base plate 13 and strike plate 12 together (FIG. 4). The shallow recess 14 formed on jamb 10 accommodates the flanges 25, 26 of base plate 13 and the upper and lower ends of strike plate 12, while the central deep recess 15 accommodates base plate portion 29 and certain others of the strike elements to be described. Screws 35, 36 are passed through the above mentioned, holes in base plate 13 and strike plate 12 and are screw-threadedly received in jamb 10.

Strike plate 12 is provided with a central aperture 40 for receiving therein the latch bolt 41 of the associated door 42 (FIGS. 2, 5, 6). Aperture 40 is partially defined 'by a vertically extending straight inner edge 43 that is interrupted by arcuate recesses 44, 45 for a purpose to be described. The adjacent vertical outer edge 46 of the strike plate is preferably spaced outwardly from the remainder of the strike plate and between said inner and outer edges 43, 46 the strike plate 12 is joggled to provide a shallow recess48 for apurpose to be described. The joggled portion 49 of the strike plate 12 is received within the above mentioned recess 17 formed in jamb 10.

The adjustable portion of the strike comprises a Z-shaped keeper plate generally designated 52 (FIG. 1). This keeperplate comprises an outer camming flange 53, an inner flange 54 parallel to'fiange 53 and a connecting web 55. The vertical extent of inner flange 54 is less than the vertical extent of latch bolt aperture40 so that said flange 54 is readily received through said aperture. However the vertical extent of web 55 is greater than the vvertical extent of aperture 40 and upper and lower slots and away fromjamb 1t Adjustmentof keeper plate 52 is effected by means of an adjustment screw 62 having a head 63 and provided with a circumferentially extending groove 64 for receivinga retaining ringeS therein. Inner flange 54 of keeper plate 52 is provided with a central aperture 66 for receiving therethrough the threaded shank 68 of adjustment screw 62. After the shank 68 is passed through aperture 66, retainer ring 65 is inserted in groove 64 so that screw 62 is freely rotatable on flange 54.

The inner base portion 29 of base plate 13 is provided with a central threaded aperture 70 (FIG. 1) for receiving therein the threaded shank 68 of screw 62. In order to strengthen the connection between screw 62 and base plate portion 29 it is preferable to form portion 29 to provide a boss 71 (FIG. 4) so as to increase the length of the interengaging threads and thus enhance the stability of the screw relative to the base plate. To prevent separation of the above described parts the end of the threaded shank 68 may be riveted or the threads otherwise mutilated after assembly as indicated at 67.

It is desirable that the screw 62 turns only in response to a predetermined torque and does not turn in response. to vibration. For this reason it is desirable to provide an axially extending slot in the shank 68 of screw 62 for receiving therein a strip 72 of suitable plastic, such as nylon, to provide friction between the screw and the apertured base portion 29. In order to minimize the possibility of unauthorized adjustment of screw 62 the head 63 is provided with a relatively small noncircular recess 73 which is adapted to receive therein a complementarily formed wrench (not shown). By this structure it will be apparent that it is a simple matter to reach through the aperture 40 of the strike plate with a suitable wrench in order to turn the screw 62 the desired amount (see FIG. 3).

It will be apparent that the above described structure in which the web 55 is effectively retained in slots 57, 58 and in abutment with the inner vertical edge 43 of strike plate 12 results in an extremely solid support of the adjustable keeper plate 52 despite its adjustability. The above described cooperation between adjusting screw 62 and base plate portion 29 further enhances the rugged ness of such support.

It will be understood that the greatest load applied to keeper plate 52 is a rebound load resulting from the slammed door reversing its direction after the door stop has been engaged. This being the case it will be noted that such rebound load is applied by the flat face of the latch bolt 41 first to the adjacent flat face of the web 55, then in turn to the vertical edge 43 of the strike plate and, at the same time, to the base plate portion 29 through screw 62.

In order to stilfen the web 55 to resist buckling under the impact load impressed thereon by the latch bolt 41 it is desirable to form the web 55 to provide horizontally extending stiffening ribs 75, 76. To avoid interference between said ribs 75, 76 and the strike plate 12 the recesses 44, 45 (FIG. 1) hereinbefore referred to are formed along the vertical edge 43 of the latch bolt aperture to receive said ribs therein.

It will be noted that the camming flange 53 is provided with the customary camming lip 77 at its free end to engage the latch bolt 41 of the door and to initiate the depression of the same. It should also be noted that the camming flange 53 is sufficiently long in horizontal extent to overhang the adjacent vertical edge 49 of the strike 'plate 12. By this structure the depression of the latch bolt is effected just as smoothly as in a conventional fixed strike. Furthermore, the above described connection between the adjustable keeper and the fixed strike plate prevents noise and vibration that otherwise might result from relative shifting of the parts.

It will be understood that when the adjustable strike is adjusted to its closed position shown in FIG. the joggled portion 49 of strike plate 12 permits the camming flange 53 to be received in recess 48 so that the outer face of said flange 53 is substantially coplanar with the outer face of the strike plate 12 thus providing a neat appearance. The strike should, of course, be installed in closed position corresponding to a minimum clearance between the jamb and door as shown in FIG. 5. If said clearance subsequently becomes greater due to warping or shrinkage it is a simple matter to turn screw 62 to partially close the gap between keeper plate 52 and door 42 and thus obtain optimum engagement between latch bolt 41 and the keeper for maximum security. It should also be noted in this connection that in locksets provided with dogging means to prevent depression of the latch bolt from outside the door it is important that the clearance between the keeper and the door be a minimum to ensure that such dogging means is actuated when the door is closed. Furthermore, in locksets provided with key shut out devices such close clearance is desirable to ensure actuation of such devices.

It will be apparent that the above described strike provides the adjustment necessary for most installations and at the same time incorporates a ruggedness substantially equivalent to that of fixed strikes. Furthermore, a neat appearance is not sacrificed and the adjustment to suit door cleance is made extremely simple.

The above specific description of the preferred form of the invention should not be taken as restrictive as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that minor variations in design may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. An adjustable strike adapted to cooperate with the latch bolt of an associated door comprising:

an apertured strike plate adapted to be secured to the jamb of such door and a base plate spaced from said strike plate,

a keeper plate mounted on said strike plate and including an outer carnrning flange substantially parallel to said strike plate, an inner flange parallel to said outer flange and a web portion connecting said flanges and disposed at right angles to said strike plate,

adjustable screw means connecting said inner flange and said base plate for adjustably positioning said camming flange at various positions relative to said strike plate,

said camming flange including a camming lip overhanging the adjacent edge of said strike plate.

2. An adjustable strike according to claim 1 wherein said strike plate is provided with an offset portion for receiving said outer camming flange therein, whereby the outer face of said camming flange is substantially coplanar with the outer face of said strike plate when said keeper plate is adjusted to its innermost position.

3. An adjustable strike according to claim 1 wherein said strike plate is provided with a slot communicating with the aperture of said strike plate for receiving a marginal portion of said web therein.

4. An adjustable strike according to claim 3 wherein said base plate is provided with an extension connecting said base plate with said strike plate, said extension being provided with a slot in registration with the slot in said strike plate for receiving said marginal portion of said web therein.

5. An adjustable strike adapted to cooperate with the latch bolt of an associated door comprising:

a base member carried by said strike plate and including a base plate spaced inwardly from said strike plate,

said strike plate being provided with an aperture for receiving such latch bolt therein,

said strike plate being formed with an inner vertically extending edge defining one side of said aperture and an outer vertical edge spaced from said inner edge,

a keeper plate mounted on said strike plate and including an outer camming flange adapted to engage and cause depression of the latch bolt, an inner flange parallel to said camming flange, and a web portion connecting said flanges and disposed at right angles to said strike plate for engaging the flat face of such latch bolt when the door is closed,

5 said web portion being disposed alongside said inner edge of said strike plate whereby the rebound force of such door is transmitted from said web portion to said inner edge and to said strike plate; said strike plate being formed with a pair of upper and lower slots communicating with said aperture for respectively receiving therein the upper and lower marginal portions of said web,

and screw threaded means connecting said inner flange and said base member for adjusting said keeper plate relative to said strike plate.

6. An adjustable strike according to claim 5 wherein said base member is provided with horizontally extending portions provided with slots for receiving said marginal portions therein.

7. An adjustable strike comprising:

a strike plate provided with means for securing the same to the jamb of a door,

a base plate having a portion spaced from said strike plate and provided with legs connecting said portion with said strike plate,

a Z-shaped keeper plate including an outer camming flange, an inner flange parallel to said camming flange and a web connecting said flanges and disposed at right angles to said strike plate, and

a screw threaded element extending between said inner flange and said portion of said base plate for adjust ably positioning said keeper plate relative to said strike plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,111,425 Ziganek et a1 Sept. 22, 1914 1,463,384 Butterworth July 31, 1923 2,503,536 Yeakel Apr. 11, 1-950 

7. AN ADJUSTABLE STRIKE COMPRISING: A STRIKE PLATE PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME TO THE JAMB OF A DOOR, A BASE PLATE HAVING A PORTION SPACED FROM SAID STRIKE PLATE AND PROVIDED WITH LEGS CONNECTING SAID PORTION WITH SAID STRIKE PLATE. A Z-SHAPED KEEPER PLATE INCLUDING AN OUTER CAMMING FLANGE, AN INNER FLANGE PARALLEL TO SAID CAMMING FLANGE AND A WEB CONNECTING SAID FLANGES AND DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID STRIKE PLATE, AND A SCREW THREADED ELEMENT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID INNER FLANGE AND SAID PORTION OF SAID BASE PLATE FOR ADJUSTABLY POSITIONING SAID KEEPER PLATE RELATIVE TO SAID STRIKE PLATE. 